3:19Nowwe knowthatwhateverthe lawsays, it saysto those who are under22the law, so thateverymouthmay be silencedandthe wholeworldmay beheld accountableto God.3:20Forno oneis declared righteousbeforehim23bythe worksof the law,24forthroughthe lawcomes25 the knowledgeof sin.3:21Butnow26apartfrom the lawthe righteousnessof God(which is attestedbythe lawandthe prophets)27 has been disclosed–3:22namely, the righteousnessof Godthroughthe faithfulnessof JesusChrist28forallwho believe. Forthere isno distinction,3:23forallhave sinnedandfall shortof the gloryof God.3:24But they are justified29freelyby hisgracethroughthe redemptionthat is inChristJesus.3:25Godpublicly displayed30him31 athisdeath32as the mercy seat33accessible throughfaith.34This was todemonstrate35hisrighteousness, becauseGod in his forbearance had passed overthe sinspreviously committed.363:26This was37 also to demonstrate38hisrighteousnessinthe presenttime, so that he would bejust39andthe justifierof the one who lives because ofJesus’ faithfulness.40

The Illustration of Justification

4:1Whatthenshall we saythat Abraham, ourancestoraccordingto the flesh,48has discovered regarding this matter?494:2ForifAbrahamwas declared righteous50bythe worksof the law, he hassomething to boast about – but not before God.4:3Forwhatdoesthe scripturesay? “AbrahambelievedGod, andit was credited51to himasrighteousness.”524:4Nowto the one who works, his payisnotcrediteddueto gracebutdueto obligation.534:5Butto the one who doesnotwork, butbelievesinthe one who declaresthe ungodlyrighteous,54 hisfaithis creditedasrighteousness.

4:9Is thisblessedness59thenfor60the circumcision61oralsofor62the uncircumcision? Forwe say, “faithwas creditedtoAbrahamasrighteousness.”634:10Howthenwas it creditedto him? Was he circumcisedat the time, ornot? No, he was notcircumcisedbutuncircumcised!4:11Andhe receivedthe signof circumcisionas a sealof the righteousnessthat he had by faithwhile he was still uncircumcised,64so that hewould become65thefatherof allthose who believebut have never been circumcised,66that they too could have righteousnesscreditedto them.4:12Andhe is also the fatherof the circumcised,67who are notonlycircumcised, butwho also walkin the footstepsof the faiththat ourfatherAbrahampossessed when he was still uncircumcised.68

4:23Butthe statementit was creditedto him89wasnotwrittenonlyforAbraham’s90sake,4:24butalsoforoursake, to whomit willbe credited, those who believeinthe one who raisedJesusourLordfromthe dead.4:25He91 was given over92becauseof ourtransgressionsandwas raisedfor the sakeof93 ourjustification.94

5:6For whilewewerestillhelpless, atthe right timeChristdiedforthe ungodly.5:7(Forrarelywillanyonediefora righteous person, though fora good personperhapssomeonemight possibly dareto die.)1015:8ButGoddemonstrateshis ownloveforus, in thatwhilewewerestillsinners, Christdiedforus.5:9Muchmorethen, because we havenowbeen declared righteous102byhisblood,103we will be savedthroughhimfromGod’s wrath.1045:10Forifwhilewe wereenemieswe were reconciledto Godthroughthe deathof hisSon, how muchmore, since we have been reconciled, will we be savedbyhislife?5:11Not105onlythis, butwealsorejoice106inGodthroughourLordJesusChrist, throughwhomwe havenowreceivedthis reconciliation.

5:18Consequently,120just ascondemnation121forallpeople122came123 throughonetransgression,124sotoothroughthe onerighteous act125came righteousnessleading tolife126forallpeople.5:19Forjust asthroughthe disobedienceof the oneman127many128 were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man129 many130 will be made righteous.5:20Nowthe lawcame in131so thatthe transgression132may increase, but wheresinincreased, gracemultiplied all the more,5:21so thatjust assinreignedindeath, soalsogracewill reignthroughrighteousnesstoeternallifethroughJesusChristourLord.